The mass market household good and makeup supplier is making some greener strides, with its recent announcement of the launch of new environmentally friendly packaging for a few of its top brands.

Pantene Pro V, Covergirl and Max Factor Brands are all receiving a make-up makeover with a new eco-friendly packaging derived from sugarcane. This new plastic is a renewable source,unlike the traditional plastics which is made from non-renewable petroleum.

The new packages are to hit the shelves over the course of the next two years, starting in early 2011.

More research is showing that about four percent of the total world’s oil is used to make plastics, with chemicals leaching into plastic production and, thereby, inside the bodies of the individuals using them.

“P&G’s commitment to use renewable bio-derived plastic in its global beauty and grooming product packaging is an important step forward in its efforts to improve the environmental profile of its products,” said Dr. Jason Clay, Senior Vice President of Market Transformation of World Wildlife Fund, U.S. in the press release. “We applaud this announcement as part of their leadership in finding innovative solutions to the sustainability challenges facing the world today.”

Currently, only a small percentage of plastic products can be recycled, and the rest end up as trash, polluting our lands and waters.

As more and more top-brand companies begin to use safe plastics, hopefully the practice will become widespread, and Proctor and Gamble is taking many of the right steps towards a more sustainable company.

“Using sugarcane-derived plastic represents another step in P&G’s commitment to environmental sustainability and the development of sustainable innovation products,” said Len Sauers , P&G Vice President, Global Sustainability. “P&G is making significant progress in environmental sustainability through our work with external partners. Together, we are working on creative solutions that deliver science-based sustainable innovations.”

The company also recently announced that they’ve joined forces with the National Geographic Society, National Geographic Channel and Nat Geo WILD to develop an interactive in-school conservation program. This program, called Find Your Footprint, has been created to inspire students, families and schools to reduce their eco-footprint this school year, focusing on energy, waste and water tips, along with a contest for the schools. Read more about it here.

See more about Proctor and Gamble’s sustainability efforts here.

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